Lessons in the Woods

“I wish” begins and ends Stephen Sondheim’s Tony award-winning musical, Into the Woods, which Herndon High School performed this spring for enthusiastic guests of all ages. There were full-length performances for teens and adults, family-friendly shows for younger audiences, and “behind-the-scenes” programming for ages three to seven. Most of all, there were many lessons learned.

The first lesson was for the theatre department, directed by Raphael Schklowsky, who took a risk in making the traditionally small cast musical into one with a full ensemble—birds, flowers, and trees wearing Maria V. Bissex’s creative costuming, all of which successfully combined to bring the scenes to life with graceful movement and expression.

Before the show, Sara Leong, Junior, explained, “As a tree, I'm part of the set with which the actors interact. As a forest ensemble, our job is to convey the mood of the show, especially the transition from the lighter Act I to the much darker Act II.”

Director Schklowsky added that the “...forest ensemble...gives the set a level of complexity that flats and fabrics can't achieve. Such ensemble work gives actors a lot of room for interpretation, and I’m so pleased to see the students really bring themselves into their roles."

The second lesson was for the student directors, two casts, the crew, the pit, and many volunteers, who took on the mammoth production highlighted by complex syncopation, key changes, and tight character interactions. Lead by Schklowsky and other members of the creative team—Music Director Dana Van Slyke, Pit Orchestra Conductor Jeremy Shoop, and Lighting Designer Evan Hoffmann—the students worked tirelessly with praiseworthy success. One local theatre enthusiast and Herndon High alumna noted that the musical may be one of the best—if not the best—Herndon High School production ever, and she pointed out the outstanding vocals and mature acting.

Leading the cast were the Baker (Vaheed Talebian, Senior), his Wife (Isabel Bustamante, Senior), the Witch (Allie Lytle, Senior), Cinderella (Erin Maxwell, Junior), Little Red Riding Hood (Shannon Fowler, Sophomore), and Jack (Henry Metcalf, Sophomore). While some, like the Junior Varsity cast, were relatively new to the stage, others had performed for years. Producing a musical with six main characters allowed the high school to highlight individual and collective talents.

The third lesson was for audience members, who, with the help of an extended stage and action all around, were fully immersed in the quest to fulfill wishes. As the story progressed, they discovered their favorite Grimm fairy tale stories becoming intertwined, topsy-turvy, and rather dark. In these somber moments, Sondheim’s themes about the good and bad in all, responsibility for one’s actions, and the importance of family and community rang true.

Senior Selina Shupp, who played Rapunzel, captured it well. “With the many real-world problems young people like me must now face, it's important for us to remember not only the joy that fantastical stories provide us, but also the lessons they teach us."

By the time students performed “No One is Alone” and “Children Will Listen”, audience members found themselves exiting the woods, tearful and changed from the journey.

For more information about Herndon High Theatre, please visit http://www.herndondrama.org.

INTO THE WOODS is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019.
Tel: (212) 541-4684 Fax: (212) 397-4684 www.MTIShows.com